Zatanna's mind magic required almost no preparation. There was no lengthy treatment process, no case file, no records, and the patient did not even need to be present. The helicopter had merely carried them to the secure room in the Batcave before Zatanna announced that she was ready.
Batman narrowed his eyes at her and asked, "Schiller isn't here. How are you going to enter his inner world?"
Zatanna shook her head. "Bruce, the occult is far more wondrous than you imagine. In your mind, the spirit realm may be another world hidden beneath reality, no different from the real world."
"But in truth, the reason it is called the spirit realm is because it can connect to people's souls. Those who can travel through it can enter people's hearts."
"Then can you peer into anyone's mind whenever you want?" Batman asked, though it was not really a question. His tone was certain yet wary. Zatanna shook her head. "No. Traveling through the spirit realm comes at an enormous price. Not everyone is Constantine, capable of sweet-talking a pile of demons into paying the price for him."
Zatanna sighed. "Actually, even before you and I broke up, I had already touched the threshold of magic. I once tried wandering the spirit realm in my dreams. Back then, I treated adults' warnings as empty noise. I thought I had mastered the most miraculous power in the world and could use it without restraint."
A trace of sorrow appeared between Zatanna's brows. "The price of magic may not be paid all at once. It seeps into every corner of your life, sending your life and your future sliding toward the Abyss."
"My father's disappearance was no accident." Zatanna slowly shook her head. "This is the price we have to pay."
With that,